"Ay, sir," was the confident reply. "In my time I have been called the knave with the invisible fingers. My friends used to say I could filch a man's shirt off his back while he stood talking to me in the street."
"Poh!" growled another of the men; "I much doubt whether you can pick a pocket."
"Here's a handful of testers I picked from yours," said Goodcole, resting his oar for a moment that he might return his comrade the coins.
There was a brief stoppage from rowing while the other men hastily investigated the condition of their own pockets.
"Excellent Goodcole!" quoth Sir Clement Ermsby. "Thou art a proficient in a most delicate craft."
"Thou couldst take away a man's sword and dagger ere he knew it, belike," said Jerningham.
"I could take away his teeth, or the thoughts in the centre of his head," promptly answered Goodcole.
"Perchance I shall put thee to the test by and by," said Jerningham.
In good time they found the landing with their lights, made the boat fast, and hastened through the darkness to the country-house. The gate of the courtyard was not fastened. Jerningham first led the way to a small penthouse in one corner of the yard, where he desired that Sir Clement and two of the men should remain until he saw how the captain took the new commands.
"And e'en when the maid is brought," he added, with a sudden afterthought, "best you be not seen at the first; wait till I try whether she is to be won softly. If she saw you she might remember that night, and be thrown into greater fear and opposition. I'll call when I have need of you."